Display device for vehicle tops



Jan. 26, 1954 w. T. CLORE DISPLAY DEVICE FOR VEHICLE TOPS Filed Feb. 29, 1952 INVENTOR WiY/vmw 7 C Z ore ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 26, 1954 DISPLAY DEVICE FOR VEHICLE TOPS Withrow T. Clore, Lincoln, Travel-Ads Inc., Lincoln,

of Nebraska Nebr., assignor to Nebr., a corporation Application February 29, 1952, Serial No. 274,170

3 Claims.

This invention relates to display devices or signs and more particularly to a display device adapted to be mounted on the top of a vehicle, such as an automobile.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide an improved display device which can be quickly and conveniently mounted on the top of an automobile or similar vehicle and Will securely support a sign or other display object in upright position on the vehicle top; which requires no modification of the vehicle top structure for its installation; which permits the sign or display object to turn about a substantially vertical axis to minimize the effect of the wind on the sign or object; which will not damage the associated vehicle top in any way; and which is simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture, easy to install, and neat and attractive in appearance.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the following description and the appended claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure l is a fragmentary perspective View of a vehicle top showing a display device illustrative of the invention operatively mounted thereon;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary cross sectional view on an enlarged scale on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view on an enlarged scale on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view on an enlarged scale on the line 44 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view on an enlarged scale on the line 55 of Figure l Figure 6 is a perspective view of a sign supporting member of the device;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of an attachment for the device; and

Figure 8 is a side elevational view of the device with the attachment illustrated in Figure '7 in use.

With continued reference to the drawing, the device comprises a base adapted to rest upon a vehicle top, the base embodying a base plate ID of circular shape having a centrally disposed aperture or opening II therein and formed of suitable sheet or plate material, such as metal, wood, or synthetic resin plastic. Flat arms, as

indicated at I2, I3, I4 and I5 are secured each a at one end to the base plate I and radiate from the base plate at substantially equal angular intervals of approximately 90 around the latter. The arms I2, to I inclusive are all of substantially the same length and overlap one side in registry with the aperture 2 of the base plate with their corresponding ends terminating at the edge of the aperture i l in the base plate.

Rubber suction cups, as indicated at I8, I7, I8 and I 9 are secured one to each of the arms, I2, I3, Hi and I5 near the ends of these arms remote from the base plate I0 and extend from the side of the arms remote from the base plate to engage the outer surface of a vehicle top 20 and support the arms and base plate on the top, as is clearly illustrated in Figure 1.

An anti-Lfriction bearing, generally indicated at 2|, is disposed at the side of the arms 2 to 15 inclusive remote from the base plate It? and I I in the base plate.

The bearing H has an outer race 22 of circular shape positioned with one edge abutting the sides of the arms I2 to I5 inclusive at the side of the arms remote from the base plate I3, this outer race being substantially concentric with the aperture I I, an inner race 23 circumspatially disposed in the outer race, and anti-friction ball elements 24 operatively disposed between the outer and inner races 22 and 23. The outer race is rigidly secured to the arms by suitable means such as the weld or solder joints, as indicated at 25.

A bolt or post 26 rises from the base and is connected to the base for rotary movement about a vertical axis. Specifically, the post extends through the inner race 23 of the bearing 2! and has at the side of the bearing remote from the base plate I0 a screw threaded end portion receiving a nut 21 which bears against the adjacent end of the inner race 23 of the bearing. A vertically disposed frame adapted to receive and support display matter is connected to the post 26 for rotation therewith. Specifically, the frame is fixedly attached to a saddle 35] which is secured to the upper end of the post, the saddle being of channel shaped cross section having a web 3i and two spaced apart and. substantially parallel flanges 32 and 33 extending one along each edge of the web is secured at the center of its web to the post 26 at the end of the latter remote from the screw threaded portion receiving the nut 2'! and the flanges 32 and 33 of the saddle are each provided with bolt holes, as indicated at 34 and 35, disposed one near each end of the corresponding flange, the corresponding holes in the two flanges being in registry transversely of the saddle to receive bolts, as indicated at 36 and 31. "1A spacing sleeve 38 surrounds the post 26 between the saddle 30 and the adjacent end of the inner race 23 of the bearing 2| and is secured at its corresponding end to the web 3! of the saddle. This sleeve flares at its end remote from the saddle on the adjacent end of the inner race of the bearing to hold the saddle spaced from the bearing and with its web 3| substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal center line of the post 26.

Means fastening the base to a vehicle top and resting upon the latter are provided, such means comprising flexible strands, such as wire cables, 49 and M are connected each at one end to the base plate it) at diametrically opposite locations on the base plate and extend outwardly from the latter. Turnbuckles 42 and A3 are connected to the ends of the strands 48 and M respectively remote from the base plate if! to adjustably vary the effective length of the strands and hooks 44 and 45 are connected to the ends of the turnbuckles A2 and 63 respectively remote from the corresponding strand and. engage under the rain rails, as indicated at ie, of a vehicle to secure the display device on the vehicle top. Rubber suction cups or pads of resilient material as indicated at i? and 48 are secured to the hooks 44 and 45 respectively at the ends of the hooks connected to the corresponding turnbuckles 12 and 43 and these suction cups engage the surface of the top to maintain the cables 40 and M and turnbuckles 42 and G3 spaced from the top 29 so that the cables and turnbuckles Will not damage the finish on the automobile top.

A bumper ring l!) concentrically surrounds the base plate Hi and is disposed on the sides of the arms 52 to 5 inclusive adjacent the base plate. This ring is of circular shape and also preferably of circular cross sectional shape and has a radial dimension only slightly less than the length of the arms E2 to l5 inclusive so that it rests upon and is secured to the arms near the outer ends of the latter.

In the arrangement illustrated in Figure 1 the frame 56 is adjustable, of elongated rectangular shape and of channel shaped cross section and has its side rail it received in the saddle 30 substantially at the midlength location of the side rail and secured therein by the bolts 36 and 37 extending through the saddle flanges and the side rail SI of the frame. A sign 52 of suitable sheet material and carrying advertising or other display matter is mounted in the frame 50 with its edges received in the channel shaped side and end rails of the frame. The frame is made in separable upper and lower parts and the end rails are telescopically associated, as indicated at 53 and 54, the overlapping portions of these end rails being provided with spaced apart apertures receiving bolts or pins for securing the two parts of the frame together in different positions of adjustment to accommodate the frame toesigns of different heights.

The arrangement supports the sign in upright position above the top 29, as is clearly illustrated in Figure l, and provides freedom of turning movement of the sign about the axis of the post 26 so that the effect of wind from different directions on the sign will be greatly minimized. Also, by such arrangement the post 26 is freely rotatable in response to impulses induced upon the frame 58 by air currents when a vehicle whose top has the said base fastened thereto is standing in the atmosphere and by traveling movement through the atmosphere of such vehicle.

In the arrangement illustratedin Figure 1 a rudder 55 in the form of a sheet material vane is secured to the frame at the end of the frame disposed toward the rear of the vehicle and this rudder serves to maintain the frame and sign headed into the relative wind. It is to be understood that the same result can be accomplished by omitting the rudder and mounting the frame in the saddle 30 at a location between the front end and the midlength location of the bottom rail of the frame.

The bumper ring 49 will contact the bottom rail of the frame and prevent this rail from striking the vehicle top if there is any rocking movement between the frame and the base plate Hi.

In the arrangement illustrated in Figures 6, '7 and 8 a block of elongated, rectangular shape is provided with transversely extending apertures 6i and 52 one near each end thereof, and this block is disposed in the saddle 30 and secured therein by the bolts '36 and 31. A tubular standard 63 extends from the block 60 with its longitudinal center line substantially in longitudinal alignment with the longitudinal center line of the post 26 and an ornamental knob 64 is provided on the end of the standard 63 remote from the block 66. The standard 63 will be substantially vertically disposed when the device is operatively mounted on a vehicle top and split clamps 55 and 6B are secured to the standard 63 at spaced apart locations intermediate the length of the latter and provide apertured lugs extending to one side of the standard. One end rail of the frame 50 is disposed between the lugs provided by the clamps 65 and 66 and is secured to these lugs by suitable bolts extending through the lugs and through apertures in the corresponding end rail of the frame so that the frame and the included sign 52 extends substantially perpendicularly from the standard. A brace wire or strand 6'! is connected between the standard 63 at the end of the latter adjacent the knob 66 and the sign frame 50 at the end of the top rail of the frame remote from the standard to assist in supporting the frame in position on the standard.

With this arrangement, the entire sign including its frame acts as a vane or rudder to maintain the sign headed into the relative wind and to thereby minimize the effect of the wind there- If desired, the knob 64 may be made transparent and provided internally with a lighting fixture connectd to the wiring system of the associated vehicle or, if desired, the knob may be replaced by a suitable lamp, of known construction, for directing light onto the sign.

While the device has been shown as carrying a flat sign, it is to be understood that it may carry other display objects such as a model, a flag or pennant, or an animated device.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms withut departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments, are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims, are therefore, intended to be embraced. therein.

What is claimed is:

1. A display device for mounting upon vehicle tops comprising a base adapted to rest upon a vehicle top, means fastening said base to a vehicle top when resting upon the latter. an upstanding post rising from said base and connected to said base for rotary movement about a vertical axis, and a vertically disposed frame adapted to receive and support display matter positioned with respect to said post so that a major portion of the area included by the frame is on one side of said axis and connected to said post for rotation therewith, said post being freely rotatable in response to impulses induced upon the major portion of the area included by the frame by air currents when a vehicle whose top has the said base fastened thereto is standing in the atmosphere and by traveling movement through the atmosphere of such vehicle.

2. A display device for mounting upon vehicle tops comprising a base adapted to rest upon a vehicle top, means fastening said base to a vehicle top when resting upon the latter, an upstanding post rising from said base and connected at its lower end to said base for rotary movement about a vertical axis, a saddle secured to the upper end of said post for rotation therewith, and a vertically disposed frame adapted to receive and support display matter positioned with respect to said post so that a major portion of the area included by the frame is on one side of said axis and fixedly attached to said saddle, said post being freely rotatable in response to impulses induced upon the major portion of the area included by the frame by air currents when a vehicle whose top has the said base fastened thereto is standing in the atmosphere and by traveling movement through the atmosphere of such vehicle.

3. A display device for mounting upon vehicle tops comprising a base adapted to rest upon a vehicle top, said base comprising a fiat plate and a plurality of arms projecting in diverging relation from said plate, and means on each of said arms adjacent the free and adapted to engage a vehicle top when said base is resting upon the latter, means fastening said plate to a vehicle top when resting upon the latter, an upstanding post rising from said plate and connected to said plate for rotary movement about a vertical axis, and a vertically disposed frame adapted to receive and support display matter positioned with respect to said post so that a major portion of the "area included by the frame is on one side of said axis and connected to said post for rotation therewith, said post being freely rotatable in response to impulses induced upon the major portion of the area included by the frame by air currents when a vehicle whose top has the said base fastened thereto is standing in the atmosphere and by traveling movement through the atmosphere of such vehicle.

WITHROW T. CLORE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,224,446 Campbell May 1, 1917 1,672,134 Pitt June 5, 1928 1,728,079 Power Sept. 10, 1929 1,942,444 OConnor Jan. 9, 1934 2,270,377 McLaughlin Jan. 20, 1942 

